Category Archives: Accountability

In Protest Of Amherstburg Hosting Essex County’s Accessibility Fest-for-all

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The first edition of Barriers In The Burg was created in protest of this event meant to celebrate accessibility and inclusion but Amherstburg is not an inclusive community.

Barriers create exclusion and isolation and requests to remove them continue to be ignored, dismissed and minimized.

Segregation is shameful. It’s 2025 but people with disabilities, the largest minority, still face marginalization, tokenism, ableism, attitudinal barriers and euphemisms like ‘people of all abilities.’

Rich Donovan, 4th AODA reviewer, hand picked by the provincial government, said, “I think the root of this problem is decades of discrimination, starting with eugenics, which was a state-supported approach to eliminate disability in some countries. We can’t forget that reality and that’s what’s at the base of these issues.” 

Amherstburg contacted Essex County to host the 2025 event. What will the town showcase? An inclusive playground where there’s a trip hazard to get to it? An outdated, segregated wheelchair swing under lock and key without any signage to indicate how to access it? Any inclusive recreation aside from the Miracle League?

Is that the extent of Amherstburg’s display?

As Mayor Prue declared, ‘this town has not been compliant.’

Same Old In Person Voting For 2026

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If I could give out awards for last night’s council dumpster fire, Deputy Mayor Gibb would be the recipient but there would be some runner ups. It would be so refreshing to listen to council members who would demonstrate they’ve conducted independent research. Instead, ableism was on full display, along with the race to ‘support the recommendation of administration.’

Gibb said he wanted to stick with in-person voting, “you can’t get more accessible than that.” Because two dozen people used in home voting? He said accessibility options have been addressed. And I have strongly encouraged him to take more training in accessibility and human rights.

Councillor Crain mentioned cybersecurity and believed the in-person method should be continued. Okay, then stop being on social media and meet all the constituents in person. Oh, and get rid of the town’s Talk the Burg online surveys.

Councillor Allaire said in-person voting gave residents at Seasons a sense of independence. She doesn’t get it and has a lot to learn. Her statement that online voters could be influenced if others are looking over their shoulders was what convinced me.

Councillor Courtney said it was a hybrid option already with the in-home option for people with accessibility needs. I don’t think he gets it either.

Councillor Pouget thought the decision could be deferred pending more consultation. The clerk said a bylaw needs to be passed prior to May 1, 2026, but resources need to be secured as quickly as possible. But admin is to blame for not bringing the report back by mid-term as the CAO mentioned. (Shhh; no kudos for admin). Like the policing renewal contract that was delayed until there was no choice but to stay with Windsor, oh, time ran out to consult the public so stick with the same old and stay comfortable with that.

Councillor Don McArthur agreed with Pouget. He said voting at the polls is “democracy in action” but acknowledged it is harder for some to get to the polling stations than others. I think democracy in action is the voting process, not the voting method.

Mayor Prue said “I’m a little nervous about going with the computer system until I get a little more safeguards than I saw in the report.” But I mentioned the accredited standard that wasn’t mentioned in the report. Did he not catch that when I spoke?

A post-election survey was mentioned, along with the 73% in favour of in person voting. I support taxes being put toward calculators for members of council. A man was asking voters at the Libro how they liked to vote and used tally marks. When I asked him when the survey was decided he said that day he was given pen and paper.

As I advised council, the 73% represents only about 16% of eligible voters in town. Using 2022 eligible voters’ data, about 9000 residents have a disability or have a family member with a disability. Remember how council members voted before you vote in 2026.

Mayor Prue’s Inaugural Speech RE Concession 6 and 8

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Residents on 6th Concession N have resorted to a petition at change.org that states, in part, “Despite these significant challenges, the town council continues to prioritize excessive spending on festivals and parks within the town, disregarding the fundamental need to maintain basic infrastructure on the amalgamated portions of the township, like 6th Concession N. They claim they have no money and the road isn’t slated for reconstruction for 6 years!” 

Listen to Mayor Prue address the concession conditions; unofficial transcript below.

If you walk along the concession roads, people will tell you look at this lousy road especially six and eight. I walked up and down every one of those roads to every one of those houses. Not me individually, but with Nolan and some of the team who are here tonight. We walked through all of those streets and they are in pretty sad shape. And I promised them that we will give the same opportunities to the people who live in the concessions as we do to the downtown and that we will start rebuilding their roads as soon as practicable.

Why hasn’t it been practicable? Money has been spent on pickleball, walking trails in parks, new town vehicles and a list of wants.

RECAP Accessibility Committee Meeting August 28, 2025

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The meeting started a few minutes late. Chair Shirley Prue called the meeting to order and asked for a minute of silence ‘to commemorate a member of our committee who is no longer with us, who passed recently.’

Before the silence ended, Mayor Michael Prue walked in, waited, and then spoke to his wife from across the room. So, technically, isn’t the mayor out of order? I can’t imagine that behaviour being tolerated at a council meeting.

For whatever reason Shirley Prue asked the clerk to do the roll call; she usually asks the clerk to do the land acknowledgement also but this time she read it.

On to pecuniary interest where a discussion was held because of Tony Pietrangelo’s wish to abstain from item 6.1 site plan review since he used to own that property at one time (McDonald’s). Shirley Prue thought he didn’t have a conflict. Councillor McArthur just wanted to acknowledge, regarding item 6.4 the fest-for-all progress update, that he works for the organizer, County of Essex, in communications and would promote the event on social media. 

Site Plan Review for 151 Sandwich Street South

  • Ms. Prue thought Heidi Ballairgeon was there to talk about this but she said no, she didn’t have this one.
  • The clerk explains the site plan changes for the McDonald’s restaurant, including a two-lane drive-through and expanded rear building area.
  • He said he reviewed the site and didn’t have any particular recommendations beyond what has been provided but of course, it is provided to the committee for any recommendations they may have. (yes, admin has a chance during iits own site plan review process).
  • Following clarification that there will be two order lanes that will merge, the committee receives the site plan without any specific recommendations.

Kings Navy Yard Park Extension Phase 1B

  • Now it was Heidi Baillargeon’s turn to present; her audio kept cutting out.
  • the Kings Navy Yard Park extension phase 1B focused on stabilizing the break wall and addressing accessible walkways that come from Dalhousie Street into the site
  • doing a site remediation by taking contaminated soil out and disposing of it and putting all the underground site servicing and things that most people won’t generally see, but cost a lot of money, so all the servicing for future electrical requirements for the site, future sanitary storm connections, all your hydro, water, gas.
  • Christine Easterbrook asked what was at the very top of that half circle; it looks like there’s steps up to it.
  • Baillargeon said yes, there’s a transition area with a gradual ramp so you can either choose to go down a series of stairs in the middle or you can follow the ramp down the left or the right.
  • Tents could be placed on either side and food trucks could locate around the semi-circle.
  • Pietrangelo asks, how close is the closest accessible parking spot?
  • Baillargeon says the closest accessible parking spot, I believe there is one right on Dalhousie Street, just down in front of flow cafe I think it is. So when Dalhousie gets reconstructed, we are planning on basically taking where the property line is and bumping that into have angled parking all the way along the roadway, so that, you know, we can provide parking for the site, but it’s not part of this project at this point. We don’t have the money to do that right now.
  • Pietrangelo asks Baillargeon, what are you looking for from us to do with this, with your presentation, what do you need from us? (After all the years on this committee, why members are still asking what is being sought from it is odd).
  • Baillargeon says, I’m bringing it to the committee to let you know that we have accommodated and made accommodations for accessibility in the complete transition from Dalhousie Street to the waterfront. (No, universal access would allow for one ramp, not a ramp on either side of a set of stairs like the tourist booth on the highway. Segregated means of access is far less desirable).
  • Councillor McArthur asks, what is right in the centre?
  • Baillargeon says that is supposed to be a future feature. We’ve had some discussions with the Indigenous community in terms of maybe making that part of the three fires Confederacy. 
  • McArthur asks a follow up, benches are there accessible benches throughout the park? (shocking, since I have criticized McArthur for volunteering on this committee and not being a stronger champion for people with disabilities). 
  • Baillargeon says there will be accessible benches throughout the park. There will be the black ribbon style benches that will be going in this section, and they will be located kind of along the pathways closest to the riverfront.
  • McArthur then asks what about fishing in this part of the park?
  • Baillargeon says I think the fishing would be accommodated. 

H Murray Smith, Centennial Park Revised Concept

  • Baillargeon presents the revised concept plan for H Murray Smith, Centennial Park
  • The plan includes a walkway connecting the seniors Active Living Center and accessible parking near tennis and multi-use courts.
  • The committee discusses the need for crosswalks and traffic calming measures along Richmond Street.
  • The clerk mentioned the benches are conceptual in this drawing, because we have to do consultation on those elements. (yes, how many times have I requested meaningful consultations?!) 
  • He said we would want to consult specifically on how far to place those benches so that people could find the rest areas they needed along the route. So all of that would come when we get to building these elements.
  • Easterbrook asks, it’s supposed to be, every what is it? 200 metres and Baillargeon agrees and says we have more than every 200 metres within the plan.
  • Ms. Prue asks, and of course, my favorite question is, where are the washrooms?
  • Baillargeon says the washrooms are located in the Seniors Active Living Center just off the back of that building. 
  • Chris Drew asks are there any designated pickleball courts? 
  • Baillargeon says pickleball is at the Libro. 
  • Pietrangelo asks if the speed limit is still 50 kilometers an hour through Richmond Street. He thought maybe they should lower it. 
  • The clerk said it is a lowered speed limit.

Fest for All Event Update

  • The clerk noted he sees Ron in the room and said so I’m hoping he’s taking some diligent notes. I’ve seen some coverage there in the paper, and hoping we keep seeing that coverage as well, because this is an event we’re really looking forward to.
  • It’s the County of Essex running the fest for all but we have been sort of given the nod to be the host community for this. (the town offered to host it this year).
  • Scheduled for September 12, highlighting possible 50 vendors that showcase services, supports and products for persons with a disability and promote accessibility in the community.
  • The town will have a tent set up and partners doing demonstrations like the miracle league and the ice bullets, the sledge hockey team.
  • Clerk notes, I think that there’s a chance that what we may be best at is showcasing what it is that our site has to offer in terms of built amenities. Obviously, the miracle league itself is a crowning jewel for things to have in a community, for persons with disabilities. You do have that inclusive play structure and that wheelchair swing that’s included there, that are not things that you often see in in many communities.
  • Clerk says we’re going to have our comms team there promoting the town and the services and offerings that it has and the supports that it offers. (That should be interesting).
  • Possible Protesters
  • Chris Drew says I know there’s a lot of interest in it. I’ve got a lot of people that’s been asking me different questions about what happened last year in Colchester, and people are asking what the date is and stuff like that. The only thing is, I’m hearing rumbles that there may be some protesters there, and I hope it don’t happen,
  • Ms. Prue asked, protesting what?
  • Drew says protesting about what goes on in the town with the AODA. 
  • Ms. Prue laughs and then says I’ll be intrigued to hear that.
  • The clerk says for this event the focus is on supports for people with disabilities and, you know, equality in the community is an important message to take home. 

Unfinished Business and Future Plans

  • Pietrangelo raises concerns about the unfinished sidewalk on Pickering and requests a motion to complete it.
  • The clerk says the work is pending some site activities.
  • Ms. Prue asks like what? 
  • The clerk says I’m not at liberty to discuss the development and will find out a timeline.
  • Pietrangelo says we had the flag raising in Essex, I sent an email out to everybody about the Amherstburg flag raising for accessibility. I never got an answer back. So my question is, did we have a flag raising in Amherstburg for accessibility this year? (No, they didn’t).
  • The clerk says I believe we did.
  • Pietrangelo says I don’t know why we didn’t do that this year here in Amherstburg. We should have done it. We should not have left it just Essex County, because Essex County is fine but I think Amherstburg is Amherstburg. (I’m guessing no motion was made to raise a flag in Amherstburg this year).
  • The committee discusses the need for a flag-raising event for National Accessibility Week and the importance of involving schools and whether it should be held at the Libro or town hall.
  • Ms. Prue says last year there was a little bit of awkwardness, I think, in terms of accessibility, even for the patio area of the town hall, there was a couple of hiccups.
  • Easterbrook mentions another opportunity – December 3, which is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 
  • Pietrangelo asks if he should make a motion or if the clerk can draw one up to have a flag raising every year because if we’re going out of our way to even go with aphasia, you know, we’re really into this, we have to let the people know. I don’t know if Essex County is aware of that. We are the only town that has an Aphasia program going on; that’s important.

New Business Accessible Parking and Streetscape Improvements

  • The clerk says we will be looking at our multi-year Accessibility Plan and notes the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility has changed grant funding; they require projects be part of the defined plan of the town of the Amherstburg. We know that we have grandfathered structures in the town that are not required to comply with the current provisions. You know, laws get better every year, and sometimes our buildings are not renewed for a number of years. 
  • Easterbrook asked about the little covered bus stop things that we had talked about. The short answer is that they’re not bus shelters.
  • The clerk mentions a review of accessible parking in downtown core and plans to bring back a report for improvements and to do the consultation that’s required. (insert often repeated phrase of requesting meaningful consultation).
  • The clerk says they received a request from a resident that we do have to consider and will bring that to the next meeting.

Amherstburg Resident On Windsor Police Service Board

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David Hammond, of Amherstburg, is a provincial appointee to the Windsor Police Service Board as of January 16, 2025 and will serve until January 15, 2027.

Mayor Prue might not be happy that his role is to be an Advisor on the Windsor Police Service Board, without a vote, but the terms of the contract were known when town council renewed the contract on February 8, 2023.

I reached out to Mayor Dilkens, who responded by email:

The City of Windsor has a contract to provide policing to the Town of Amherstburg.  Windsor City Council was agreeable to providing their one seat to the Mayor of Amherstburg for the first term of the agreement.  After the first term, the contract specifically allows City Council to choose any other member of the public.  The contract also provides that if the mayor of Amherstburg is not selected, then the mayor can sit as a non-voting advisor to the Board, which Mayor Prue has done since assuming his office.  The City of Windsor is simply a service provider to Amherstburg.  We aren’t jointly governing the Windsor Police Service.  David Hammond is a provincial appointee to the Windsor Police Service Board.  The City has no control over who the Province of Ontario appoints as their representatives.  The City of Windsor can only appoint a single public member to the Board.  The remaining appointments controlled by City Council must be members of Windsor city council. 

The initial Agreement between the Town of Amherstburg and the City of Windsor, signed on October 12, 2018 stipulated:

The following shall determine the role of the Town with respect to the Board:

14. l (a) The City shall appoint the Mayor or his or her designate to the Board for the remaining term of Council until November 14, 2022, starting with the commencement of this Agreement on January 1, 2019.

(b) The City may consider the appointment of the Mayor or his or her designate for subsequent terms of Council provided that the City is providing police services to the Town.

(c) If at any time during the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, the Mayor or his or her designate is not appointed to the Board, the City agrees to allow the Mayor or his or her designate to become an advisor to the Board, as contemplated by the Act with the full ability to attend all meetings of the Board.

For further clarification regarding 14.1 (c), ‘all meetings of the Board’ shall include in-camera meetings and the advisor shall also receive all reports and correspondence as a full member of the Board would receive, subject to the advisor signing a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement.

Town Withdraws Frivolous Or Vexatious Allegations

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Another Freedom of Information request to the town of Amherstburg has led to an appeal that is in its final stage.

The town issued a reply response that included the following concluding paragraph.

“Frivolous and Vexatious To my understanding, the Town has never submitted a claim of frivolous or vexatious behaviour on behalf of an appellant through the IPC appeals process, prior to this appeal. This was not lightly considered, as the Town has withheld filing such a claim on previous appeals, such as the last appeal by the appellant wherein they appealed a mandatory time exemption, even after having already received a final response letter. In any event, the Town is willing to forego exploring this matter at this time and will withdraw its statements with regards to frivolous or vexatious behaviour on this file.”

Thank you,
Kevin Fox

Consultation On Policing Missing

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Re RTT article, Town to move on from Windsor police, will explore remaining policing options

It was deeply alarming to read mayor Prue’s statement, ‘we didn’t even ask the price’ and the only question was about a voice and vote on the board, which Amherstburg has with a provincial appointee.

The contract conditions were well known during the proposal and during subsequent renewals.

When council initially decided in favour of Windsor Police it committed that, prior to a renewal decision, it would consult with the community regarding the overall experience with the Windsor Police Service during the first term. 

The original renewal notice date of April 30, 2022 was extended to June 30 and again to December 31. During the December 5, 2022 meeting, council approved the CAO’s recommendation and again extended the deadline to renew to March 31, 2023. The rationale for the third extension was that a new council was dealing with several issues and a ‘fulsome public consultation may not be attainable’ during the holiday season. Mayor Prue made a point of ensuring the public understood the town requested an extension ‘so that we can hold public consultations’ on the police contract which would take place between December and March.

The community wasn’t consulted during the three month extension and instead of waiting until March 31, council renewed on February 8, 2023.

During the February 8 meeting, council learned that the 5 year average cost for policing Amherstburg with Windsor Police was 5.4 million and LaSalle’s was 7.8 million; Amherstburg saved a 5 year average of $1,742,205.

As Deputy Maor Gibb mentioned during the February meeting, Essex County counterparts save approximately 2 million annually with the OPP, or about 10 million compared to our insignificant 1.7 million over five years. 

Given that an OPP costing was not obtained prior to the Windsor agreement, which was a disservice to taxpayers, and two previous council motions to obtain an OPP costing were never rescinded, this council should fulfill promises to consult the community and compare all costs and options prior to making another decision.

Essex County’s Fest-for-All: A Call for Action on Accessibility

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We need action, not more rhetoric.

From the Essex County News update about the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee’s ‘Fest-for-all’.

“Amherstburg is honoured to host this event and there’s no better place to host it than the Libro Centre – an accessible facility and the home of Canada’s first ever Miracle League,” said Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue. “There will be something for everyone at this amazing festival and it is my hope people come to Amherstburg from far and wide to learn more about accessibility issues and the importance of building inclusive, barrier-free communities.”

Mayor Michael Prue

Well I have been advocating for over 3 decades for accessibility by delegating, emailing, blogging, and writing letters to the editor. I resorted to a human rights complaint against the town to gain equal access to the library following my 10-year campaign.

Both staff and members of council, other than Councillor Pouget, have dismissed the existence of Open Air barriers. The number one complaint in the residents’ Open Air survey is accessibility but council did not take any meaningful action about it.

Councillor Crain

  • was the sole opposition to a residents’ Open Air survey, stating they’ve done an Open Air survey for residents and businesses so he felt it would waste staff time. CAO Critchley confirmed there was no resident wide survey. 
  • Crain was part of the team that created the THRIVE Open Air white paper; from the THRIVE website, ‘We believe that it should be a permanent summer feature.’ 
  • During the 2022 campaign, Crain said yes to removing barriers during Open Air; it is important that all members of the community can experience Open Air. If there are particular barriers in place, I am more than willing to investigate further and help find a solution.
  • Crain also said he didn’t even think Open Air should have been a topic of discussion, that they shouldn’t even be discussing this every year because eventually it’s going to be nothing. 
    • During the November 21, 2024 Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Crain moved, McArthur seconded That:
      1. The report on the Open Air including the Business Survey and Open House BE RECEIVED for information; and
      2. Council SUPPORT the continuation of Open Air, in the same format, same times, and same duration, for the remainder of the current term of Council.
    • During the November 25, 2024 council meeting, Crain moved, and McArthur seconded That:
      1. The report on the Open Air including the Business Survey and Open House BE
    • RECEIVED for information; and
      2. Council SUPPORT the continuation of Open Air, in the same format, same times, and same duration, for the remainder of the current term of Council.

Councillor McArthur

  • volunteered to be on the Amherstburg accessibility committee
  • has championed Open Air.
  • McArthur said everybody he talked to loves Open Air the way it is.
  • McArthur stated how families come together, and he didn’t want to take that away from people. (Yet children with disabilities that can’t equally access play areas can’t come together with families, so they have that opportunity taken from them).
  • During the 2022 campaign, McArthur said if there are persisting issues with accessibility, let’s work collaboratively to address them in consultation with the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Deputy Mayor Gibb

  • publicly admitted he’s a huge fan of Open Air.
  • Gibb stated he was ‘proud to say that I did complete the ADOA training that was offered to all members of council and I hope to put what I learned into practice not only in my “municipal life” but also in my personal life.
  • And then he said, “to me, Open Air makes the downtown more accessible for people with in at least in wheelchairs because I’ll tell you right now, try and push a wheelchair down one of those downtown sidewalks and you’ll see exactly what I mean.”
  • am800 2024, Gibb said, “”It’s family friendly, it’s free, it’s pet friendly, it’s accessible so we just want to invite all of Windsor and Essex County to come out to Amherstburg and get together and have a great time.”

Mayor Prue

  • broke the tie vote in favour of 14 weekends for 2023.
  • in 2023 Prue said, I have been to every single one of these events and probably most of the Open Air weekends; not all of them, but most of them. I have never seen any problem with access. My wife is the chair of the accessibility committee. I have discussed it with her she has never once said that there was any accessibility problem brought to that committee or anyone on the committee. I know there was one complainant, but I don’t necessarily agree with what’s being said. (aside from my complaint, council was advised that there was a member of the community who felt that there were barriers).
  • On the rainbow crosswalk, Prue said, ‘WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. GET USED TO IT’. “It helps to reinforce what an inclusive community is all about.” “I’m very proud of this town and foresight and the inclusivity that people have shown.”
  • On the dog park, Prue said it ‘reflects our commitment to creating a vibrant and inclusive community for all residents, including our beloved canine companions.’
  • On the Salty Dog patio, Prue said I am sorry that some people are not getting out of the way when someone comes by with a cane or a walker or a wheelchair, but what difference would it make if there was two cars there instead of the patio? If they won’t get out of the way on the sidewalk, they won’t get out of the way. And so I think a business case has been made, and I do believe that is in the best interest of the town to be a welcoming and friendly place for people to sit out and have a meal in the sun.
  • During the 2022 campaign, one of Prue’s priorities was, ‘Ensure all town buildings are accessible to facilitate an open and inclusive municipality.’ 
  • Prue referenced the AODA in 2023 and said in this town, we have not brought it into force. 
  • In 2025 Prue referenced the AODA and said, ‘this town has not been compliant. And I have promised, as mayor, and the council has promised, that we will hence for, hence forward, going forward, always be AOD compliant. And I want people to know that the those who have disabilities have every right to use every one of the services in this town, the same as everyone else.’
  • On the sign by-law in 2025, Prue said I don’t mind the signs. I don’t mind them, provided they are AOD compliant. I will never, never support a sign that is blocking someone who is blind, in a wheelchair, a mother in a carriage, with a carriage. I will never, ever support that sign on the street, because those people have rights, same as all of us. They’re not different. They have rights, and their rights, I think, supersede the rights to be safe, supersede the rights to make money.

    Anne Rota
  • was ordered to take human rights training following a human rights tribunal hearing
  • on Open Air, said, ‘there are no barriers in open air. There are not. Please come down and have a look. I know that for a fact. It’s not just the golf cart. We’ve actually opened up our arms if someone needs to get through. We’ve never had one complaint. That’s the honest truth in three years, and I’m sure we would have.’

Accessibility Needs To Consistently Be At Forefront

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As published in the River Town Times.

Re Sign bylaw frustrates business owners, town council makes amendment

Council’s discussion and subsequent motion to amend the bylaw to require that all signs be AODA compliant seems misguided and appears to be a performative concern.  

The signs discussed are not mentioned in the AODA or its Regulation. 

The report to council cited AODA compliance for sidewalks as per the Design of Public Spaces Standard. However, even then, sidewalks are to be made compliant when constructing new ones or redeveloping them. Although there are AODA exemptions for sidewalks for heritage reasons, they were not relied on for George Street.

Admittedly, A-frame signs can be a barrier but if placement is a concern then guidelines need to be created like in other municipalities that have approved Heritage Conservation Districts.

Deputy Mayor Gibb is quoted as saying, “we’ve charged other businesses to use town property. I don’t know what the difference is here.” My guess is there is a difference between patios taking away valuable parking spaces and a sign on a boulevard interfering with nothing.

As for the claim that these infractions, ‘undermine the Town’s efforts to maintain an inclusive and navigable public space,’ council has had opportunities to increase inclusivity but has not done so.

Open Air barriers prevent equal participation of some people with disabilities and do not provide an inclusive and navigable space. The number one resident complaint in the Open Air survey is accessibility. I emailed and/or delegated eight times requesting council to enact a patio policy to ensure AODA compliance and I provided a resource. Other barriers to equal participation need to be removed and there needs to be meaningful consultation with the disability community.

There needs to be a stronger commitment to accessibility, but it needs to be consistently at the forefront. Otherwise, one might conclude that accessibility is being embraced for appearance’s sake or when it suits.

Commentary by Linda Saxon

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Survey Errors

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Aside from errors and the misspelling of Cholchester, my opinion is that the survey does not seek meaningful feedback.

The title on ‘talk the burg’ is, Year 3 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Survey, but then it states Year Two: “The Town of Amherstburg needs your feedback to assist with the Year Two Public Consultation on the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.”

It states, “This year’s focus will be on five key areas” but lists only three:

  1. Parkland/Trails and bench placement;
  2. Recreation/Play Equipment and its placement;
  3. Accessible Street Parking.

Another error is the date; it states, “All surveys must be received by Tuesday, July 3, 2025.” It should read Thursday, July 3.

As for the survey questions, under the heading, Parkland, Trails & Recreational Amenities, did you use a bench on multi-use paths or trails, where, was it conveniently placed?

Same if you used a bench in a park.

Under the heading, Recreation/Play Equipment, if anyone in your household requires accessible playground structures, which parks you use, if placement of accessible playground elements was conveniently placed.

Under the heading, Accessible Street Parking choose your primary and secondary means of travelling in town: car, bus, taxi, walk, mobility device, other and if you require accessible parking, what percentage of the time you locate a spot, or select ‘I do not require an accessible parking,’ (space missing) which shouldn’t be a choice if you selected yes to requiring accessible parking.

There’s a fourth heading, not listed, for Communication. The accessibility advisory committee has focused on an Aphasia Friendly initiative this past year; the town applied for and received a $16, 375. provincial grant to “raise public awareness and enable change in all aspects of public life. The Town of Amherstburg has partnered with Aphasia Friendly Canada and the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Windsor with the goal to establish Amherstburg as the country’s first Aphasia Friendly community.” I have reached out to the group a few times but my questions remain unanswered.

Under the heading, Communication the survey asks for self-identification of having a communication disability and what is used to communicate with people outside the home, such as at a business or the municipality (the assumption is that one doesn’t use communication aids in the home I guess). Selections include sign language, electronic device, cards, personal assistance, other, and ‘I am not a person with a communication disability’ which, like the parking question, shouldn’t appear if the answer is yes.

There are two unrelated questions pertaining to your awareness of and attendance at last year’s inaugural Accessibility for All event at Cholchester Harbour in Essex. (The proper event title is, “Accessibility Fest-for-All”) and the same for the 2025 event at the Libro.